Automatic apparatus for supplying steam and lubricant to engine cylinders



R. WOOD AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM AND LUBRICANT TO ENGINE CYLINDERS I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 10, 1929. 4

Filed Aug. 27, 1926 MVENTM: EQBEQ? Wong MAM QMWJ Dec. 10, 1929. R. WOOD AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM LUBRICANT TO ENGINE CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 2'7, 1926 3 Sheets-$11691. 2

lNVENToK QOBERTWMD n mm SMQ Jb Dec. 10, R. AUTOMATIQ\A'YPARATUS.FOR SUPPLYING STEAM AND LUBRICANT TO ENGINE CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 27, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 10, 1929 untrue s'm'rus PATENT OFFICE" ROBERT woon, or GARWIQK, ISLE or MAN AUTOMATIC APPARATUS ron SUPPLYING STEAM AND LUBRICANT 'ro' ENGINE CYLINDERS Application filed August 27, 1926, Serial No. 131,970, and in Great Britain September 9, 1925.

This invention relates to improved autoy matic apparatus for supplying steam and e lubricant to engine cylinders, particularly when they are cut oil from the main supply 6 of actuatingfluid, and is specially applicable to locomotives.

Certain classes of engines have to run for periods during which the supply of actuating fluid, say steam, is cut oli from the cylinders, as for example in the case of locomotives when descending a long incline, or of winding engines when decelerating; and during such periods, 'andat each stroke, a vacuum is formed in the cylinder, under which condiform satisfactorily so long as actuating steam is being supplied to the cylinders, fail to act efliciently; moreover, when at the ends of the respective strokes, a cylinder opens to exhaust, air or other gas is drawn into the cyl inders through the exhaust passages, and in a locomotive, when the exhaust discharges into the smoke box, the gas thus introduced is highly charged with carbonaceous and gritty impurities, and as a result carbon is deposited on the working surfaces, which are also liable to damage by the gritty materials introduced; and the object of the invention is to provide an automatic device by the use of which the production'of a vacuum in the cylinders of a running engine, when the actuating fluid is cut E, is prevented automatically by the supply to the cylinders of low pressure steam, and by the use of which device steam-borne lubricant is also supplied to the cylinders at such times; the said supply of low pressure steam being automatically out ofl as soon as the pressure in the cylinders or valve casings through which they are sup- I plied, exceeds a predetermined pressure which, whilst suflicient to ensure the cylinders being filled With steam at the maximum speeds, is inoperative to actuate the engine. 7 According to the invention a control valve and a control piston therefor are so arranged and connected to a steam supply and to the engine cylinder or valve casings that whilst the pressure in the cylinders or casings is less than the predetermined pressure the said Valve is opened automatically and supplies F tions the usual lubricating devices, which perauxiliary steam to the casing and cylinders," the arrangement being such that whilst the auxiliary steam is being so supplied a portion of it is utilized to convey lubricant to the valve casings and cylinders, usually through the conduits by which, under normal running conditions, lubricant is supplied to the cylinders by the actionof the actuating fluid, so that the auxiliary steam, when the actuating fluid is cut ofi", and'if desired under normal running conditions as well, acts as a medium conveying the lubricant to and distributing it over the working parts enclosed by the valve casings and cylinders, and thus ensures the efiicient lubrication of these parts by the steam-borne lubricant when the engine is running normally and particularly when it is coasting; when the pressure in the valve casings or cylinders exceeds the predetermined value its action on the control piston eflects the closing of the control valve which then cuts off the auxiliary "steam supply to the cylinders or valve casings thus preventing the auxiliary steam from attaining in the cylinders a pressure suhicient to actuate the engine; this action also automatically cuts 011: the supply of auxiliary steam to the cylinders as soon as the main regulator valve of the engine is opened to admit actuating fluid to the engine cylinders for the normal running. When the supply of auxiliarysteam to the cylinders is cut off, the supply of said steam to the lubricant conduits is also cut off, or the rate of supply thereof is modified,

or a supply of high pressure steam is substituted therefor.

The admission of auxiliary steam to an engine when coasting with main regulator valve closed has the further advantage of preventing the excess wear which in the absence of such supply of steam then takes place in con sequence of the absence of the cushioning effect of the steam atthe ends of thestrokes of the piston.

I have, in the accompanying drawings, illustrated, by way of example, one mode of carrying out my invention in a manner-suit-v able for application to a locomotive.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation in medial section showing a device for supplying steam and lubricant to the cylinders of a locomotive, and comprising a control valve, a control piston, a casing and the casing connections, the upper half of the valve spindle being shown in outside elevation; in this View the parts are shown in the position they occupy when the control valve is closed by reason of the pressure in the engine cylinders exceeding the predetermined pressure. 7

V F ig." 1A is a similar fragmentary view, to

a smaller scale, of a modification.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, and shows the'control valve open and the moving parts of the device in the position they occupy fwhen the engine cylinders and lubrication conduits are being supplied with auxiliary steam.- ,7 1 v Fig. 3 is a view of the general arrangement and shows the mode in which the apparatus illustrated in Figs. l to 2 is connected to the corresponding parts of the locomotive.

A is a main casing at one end of which is formed an inlet compartment d and an outlet compartmente separated by a partition vwall a in which is formed a seating B conv trolled by a valve 0 formed at the end of a valve spindle 0 l/Vhen'the valve C is open communication is established between the steam inlet D and the steam'outlet E; the

inlet compartment 61 being cut off from the outletcompartinent e when the valve C is closed. a The inlet Dis connected to any suitable source' of steam supply; inxthe case of a steam engine it is usually connected to the main steam pipe, whichsu'pplies the engine with actuatingsteam, the connection being made on the boiler side of the main regulator Y .7 valve whlch controls the said supply; in the case of a locomotive the connection is inade by an auxiliary pipe (Z leading to the steam space of the boiler the connection of the auxiliary pipeto the casing being made by means the main regulator valve R, the auxiliary 5o steam delivery pipe 6 being connected to the of theunion d and nut (Z The outlet E is connected to the engine cylinders, usually throughthe main steam pipe S leading tothe valve casings of the several cylinders, the connection being made on the engine side of casing by the union e 'and nut e fitted to a union piece e screwed into the casing. v ,F and G are'passageways or conduits extending diametrally across the casing through the walls a and a which connect the centrally located boss a to the walls of the casing ;'the conduits open into the bore a of the boss at as shown. The valve spindle 0 extends through the bore of the'boss a and iscontrolled bya control piston H fitting a cylindrical bore 76 formed at the end of the casing A. The cylindrical bore is closed by an end cover J "having a central inlet K in which a tail-piece orguide it? formed on the control piston, preferably integrally with cylinders.

it as shown, said tail-piece having a central bore h and a cross bore h. V The inlet K is connected by a suitable pipe k union k and nut k to the engine cylinders usually as in the case of the outlet E, through a connection to the main steam pipe S on the engine side of the main regulator valve, so that the space if between the control piston H and the cover J is subject to the pressure within the engine cylinders through the inlet K, and

passagewaysh a'ndh*. .v v

The space b between the control piston and the division wall a is connected through the opening 7& to any suitable source of com paratively uniform pressure, say the atmosphere.

The boss k of the control piston is recessed,

the one end of which bears on the fixed boss a and the other end of whichbears against the bottom of the recess in the piston H. The end of the valve spindle which'bears against the piston H is recessed as at 0 and in the recess is fitted a'spiral buifing. spring 0 the one end of the spring bearing against the" bottom of the recess 0 in the valve spindle and the other end bearing againstthe bottom of the recess it in the piston, the spring 0 thus forming a cushioning connection between the valve spindle andthe control piston.

The movement of the valvespindleto the right, beyond the position shown in Fig. 1

may, if desired, be limited in any suitable The springs 05 and k may be dispensed'with; an arrangement in which the spring 0 is'dispensed with is. shown in a is a screwed opening for manufacturing purposes, made sulficiently large to-permit a for example, may be respectively an oil pump 7, and a hydrostatic oil supply 9 the outlets irom the conduits F and G being re spectively connected through unions f f and g and g and suitable pipes'f and g to the engine cylinders through the pipe S. It will be seen, therefore, that the conduits F 7 F and G, G4, are respectively interposed iii the two lubrication supplies to the engine Twosuch connections are shownbut of course one of'these may be dispensed with; or more than two may be provided, in which one or more of them may be interposed in the plug provided with a and is fitted with a spiral butler spring h", 1

' meats lubricant supply conduits leading to auxiliary apparatus.

The valve spindle c? has formed upon its circumference two pairs of grooves P P and Q Q of these, one groove of each pair, namely P and Q communicate by means of radial passageways p and 9 respectively with the interior bore 0 of the valve spindle, which bore is also provided with radial ports or passageways R extending from the bore to the circumference of the valve spindle. In the position of the valve spindle when the valve C is closed, asshown in F ig. 1, the radial passageways R are Closed by the valve seating B, and in this position the groove P aligns with the oil channels F, F, the circumferential groove forming a circumferential channel connecting the oil channel F to the oil channel F so that lubricant supplied to F, say from an oil pump, is in the ordinary way delivered through P, P and F to the valve casing and cylinders of the engine; in this position of the valve the groove Q, in like manner connects the oil channel G to the oil channel G so that lubricant supplied to G, say from a head of oil, is delivered through Gr, Q G

. to the valve casing and cylinders. When the valve C is opened, by the action of the apparatus as hereinafter described, and the parts take the position shown in Fig. 2, the groove P aligns with the oil channels F, F the groove Q aligns with the channels G, G, and the ports R are uncovered; in this position steam passes through the seating B into the outlet compartment 6 and then passes through the ports R into the bore a of the spindle, and thence by the respective radial passageways p and g and grooves P and Q into the respective streams of lubricant, said steam passing with the lubricant through the respective channels F and G to the engine. v

Preferably through ports such as and i (1 may be provided in the case of the grooves P and Q through which should the pressure in the bore 0 exceed that in the lubricant passageways when the valve is in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, any leakage steam or condense-water in the said bore 0 is drained away to the lubricant channels; and in some cases through ports such as 1'? may be formed in the wall of the valve spindle, so located axially as shown, that a limited quantity of steam from the outlet chamber 6' is supplied through the ports W, p and g to the lubricant channels F and Gr when the valve C is closed; or the plug 0 closing the end of the bore 0 may be provided with an axially disposed through calibrated opening for the same purpose. In either case the steam supplied through the ports 12 and 9 would be at normal working pressure.

It is desirable that the maximum pressure which the auxiliary steam can exert in the engine cylinder should be limited to e value below that which is sufficient to actuate the engine, and the predetermined pressure at which the valve C closes is selected on this basis.

The relative diameters of the pistons H and valve C are such that when the'space k is subjected to a pressure in excess of the predetermined pressure, and the space h is subjected to atmospheric'pressure or other uniform pressure, the excess force tending "to move the piston to the right is sufficient to overcome the force due to the boiler pressure acting on the surface a of the valve and also to overcome the ressure exerted by the spring'h with the resultthat the valve C is closed rapidly as soon as the pressure in the engine cylinder exceeds the predetermined ressure.

In order to permit steamentering at K to the main steam pipe supplying the engine,

on the boiler side of the main regulator valve; that the outlet E and inlet K are connected to the said main steam pipe on the engine side of the said regulator valve, and assuming that thelatter is'open, the moving parts take the position shown in Fig. 1 since the pressure of steam, entering at K, on thecontrol piston H is sufiicient to overcome the pressure on 1 the other side of the piston and the pressure of boiler steam on the much smaller "area of the face 0 of the valve, in addition to any pressure that may be exerted by the spring h. In the position of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the engine works under normal conditions, and the supplyof lubricant through the channels F. and G is ensured by the normal operation of the lubricating devices augmented by the flow of leakage steam or water through the ports 39 and Q2, or augmented by steam supplied the ports a or a port in the plug 0 and as there is a continual flow of steam through the valve casing and cylinders at all times this lubricant is, by the said steam, efiiciently distributed over the working parts enclosed by the casing and cylinders.

Assuming now that the regulator valve is closed, the steam pressure in the outlet compartment e and the space if between the piston H and they cover J will now 'fallto a value below the predetermined pressure which the apparatus is designed to provide in the. en-

to these ports through" gine cylinders. The steam pressure on the I face cof the valve G will, however, be maintained at that equal to the boiler pressure,

almost balanced so-that the boiler pressure on the surface of the valve would force the "moving parts into the position shown- 1n F ig, 2 in which the valve is opened, the aux- 4 iliary supply of steam entering the cylinders through the inletD, inlet compartment d valve seating B, outlet compartment e outlet E and connection pipe to thevalve casing; at the same time steam from the compartment e1 will pass bythe radial ports R to the bore 0 of the valve spindle and thence by the passageways p and 9 channels P and Q to the lubricant, mixing with the latter and passing with'it through the channels'F and G to the enginecylinders. The valve openings and the size of; the connecting pipes are such as .toensure the cylinders,at maximum piston velocity, being charged with auxiliary steam'so as to prevent the formation of a vacuumyand the size ofthe radial ports R, p and g issuch as to ensure an adequate supply of steam/to the lubricant to ensure V its conveyanceto and distribution over the 7 working, parts.

Should the pressure in the cylinder exceed the predetermined pressure, this pressure is I at once transferred to the'space 7L and acting on the face ofthe control piston is sufiicient to move the latter and the valve spindle, in opposition to the boiler pressure onthe face 0 of the valve, into the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the supply of auxiliary steam-to the-cylindersis cut off, and the supplyof st eam to thelubricant cutoil, except that due to leakage; or where ports suchasr? are provided a supply of steam, modified either {in respect to pressure orquantity, is continued.- 7

Should the pressure in the cylinders fall below thepredetermined pressure, the valve is again opened by the action first described. Generally, the predetermined pressure is so selected andtho relative diameters oi the valve and the piston areso arranged that an engine coasting at usual speed with the main regulator valve closed is continuously supiplied with sulficient auxiliary steam to prevent the formation of a vacuum in the cylinders and to ensure efficient lubrication under the'secondition's. i ,7 V

The springs c and h are, as stated, not necessary for thea'ction ofthe apparatus, the spring 7L9 bein'g fitted so as to, prevent shock between the piston H and the boss 00" of thecasing, and. the spring 0 being fitted to prevent shock between the piston H and the valve spindle. V v

The arrangement illustrated is suitable for horizontal movementof the valve spindle,

, but in some cases a vertical arrangement-of valve spindle is adopted.

Intheexampleillustrated the inlet comcasing,

partment d outletcompartment e and valve seating B are formed integralwith the main Having of my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described} acasing; an inlet chamber attached to the casing and communicating with a steam supply which is'not cut off upon the closing of the valve controlling the steam supply to the engine to which the device is fitted; an outlet chamber attached to the casing and communicating with the engine cylinder; an opening formed in the wall between these two chambers; a valve to close the said opening,

theend face of the valve beingrexposedto the pressure in the supply chamber; alcontrol cylinder attached to the casingand connected at one end to the engine cyl nder, and at the otherend to a source of pressure less than 1 the engine supply pressure; a central boss carried by the casing and provided with a bore connecting the control cylinderto the outlet chamber; a spindle actuating the valve and fitting in the said bore; a control piston inthe control cylinder which piston, when the engine pressure on it exceeds a predeter- -m1ned limit makes 1ts working stroke and acting t-hroughithe said spindle closes the valve in opposition to the pressure in thesupply chamber, the pressure in the supply chamber acting on the valve, causing'the valve to open and the control piston to make its return stroke when the engine pressure on thecontrol piston falls below the said limit; means controlled by the valve spindle to supply lubricant vto the engine cylinder when the valve is closed, and to supply a mixture of lubricant and, steam'from the delivery ch amber to the engine cylinder when the valve 1s open; substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described a casing; an inlet chamberattached to the casing and communicating with a steam sup; ply which is not cut oil upon the closing of the valve controlling the steam supply to' theengine to which the device is fitted; an

outlet chamber attached to the casing and communicating with theengine cylinder; an opening formed in the wall between these two chambers; a valve to close the said opening, the-end face of the valve being exposed to the pressure in the supply chamber; a control cylinder attached to the casing and connected at one end to the engine cylinder, and at the other end to a source of pressure less than the engine supply pressure; a central boss carried-by the casing and provided witha bore connecting thecontrol cylinder tothe outlet chamber; a spindle actuating the valve and fitting in the saidbore; a control piston in the control cylinder which piston, when the engine pressure on it exceeds a predetermined rlimit makes its working stroke and now. fully described the nature llt acting through the said spindle closes the valve in opposition to the pressure in the supply chamber, the pressure in the supply chamber acting on the valve, causing the valve to open and the control piston to make its return stroke when the-engine pressure on the control piston falls below the said limit; a lubricant supply port in the casing; a lubricant delivery port in the casing; and means controlled by the movement of the valve spindle for connecting these ports together when the .valve is closed, and for 'connecting them together and to the delivery chamber when the valve is open; substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing; an inlet chamber attached to the casing and communicating with a steam supply which is not cut off upon the closing of the valve controlling the steam supply to the engine to which the device is fitted; an outlet chamber attached to the casing and communicating with the engine cylinder; an opening formed in the wall between these two chambers; a valve to close the said opening, the end face of the valve being exposed to the pressure in the supply chamber, a control cylinder attached to the casing and connected at one end to the engine cylinder, and at the other end to a source of pressure less than the engine supply pressure; a central boss carried by the casing and provided with a bore connecting the control cylinder to the outlet chamber; a spindle actuating the valve and fitting in the said bore; a controlpiston in the control cylinder which piston, when the engine pressure on it exceeds a predetermined limit makes its working stroke and acting through the said spindle closes the valve in opposition to the pressure in the supply chamber, the pressure in the supply chamber acting on the valve, causing the valve to open and the control piston to make its return stroke when the engine pressure on the control piston falls below the said limit; a lubricant supply port in the casing connected at one end to a supply of lubricant, and opening at the other; end

into the bore of the boss of the casing;

a lubricant delivery port opening at one end into the said bore and connected at the other end to the steam supply to the engine cylinders; a circumferential groove on the valve spindle connecting the saidoil ports when the valve is closed; an

axially disposed chamber within the valve spindle; transverse ports in the wall of the valve spindle connecting when the valve is open the oil supply and delivery ports together and to the valve spindle chamber; a transverse port in the wall of the valve spindle which, when the valve is open, connects the chamber in the valve spindle to the outlet chamber of the casing, and con veys steam from thesaid casing to the oil delivery port; substantially as described. v 4. In combination with the elements of claim 3, a transverse port in the wall of. the

valve spindlec'onnecting the circumferential valvespindle to the valve groove on the spindle chamber, and a transverse port in the wall of'the valvespindle connectingthe valve spindle chamber to the outlet chamber of the casing when the valve is closed; substantially as described.

' 5. In combination with the elements of 8. The combination with the elements of claim 1, of a port in the casing connecting the inner end of the control cylinder to the at- V mosphere; substantially as described.

9. The combination with the elements of claim 1, of an opening in the outer wall of the inlet chamber of the casing in alignment with the valve spindle, and of diameter large enough to permit the Withdrawal of the valve spindle therethrough, and closing means therefor; substantially as described.

10. The combination with the elements of claim 1, of a screw-threaded opening in the outer wall of the inlet chamber of the casing in alignment with'the valve spindle and of diameter large enough to permit the withdrawal of the valve spindle therethrough;

closing means therefor recessed to form an annular face to engage the face of the valve in one of its extreme positions; obliquely disposed ports to admit steam to the said recess when the valve face engages the said annular face; and a spiral spring interposed between the valve spindle and a control piston movable axially relatively to the valve; substantially as described.

11.. The combination with the elements of i 1 claim 3, of a second set of lubricant supply and delivery ports in the casing; a second groove on the spindle aligning with the said is closed; and a second set of annular ports in the wall of the spindle aligning with the said second set of lubricant ports when the valve is open; substantially as described.

second set of lubricant ports when the valve 12. In a device as claimed in claim 1, a

control spindle capableof axial movement independently of the valve spindle; an opening at the centre of the end of the control chamber communicating with the engine trol piston and guided in the said opening;

cylinder; a tail-piececonnected to the conand longitudinal and transverse ports in the said tail-piece; substantially as described.

13. In a device as claimedi'n claim 1 in which the inlet chamberis connected to the engine steam supply onthe boiler side of the valve which controls the said supplyto the engine-;substantially as describe 14. A device as claimed in'claim 1, a casing having the inlet chamberilocatedat one end thereof, the supply chamber being located' adj'acently thereto, and divided there- I from by a wall, in which the opening closed by the valve is located, a control cylinder beinglocatedat the other end of the casing axially with the said opening, the boss in which the bore of thevalve spindle works being located at thecen tre of the casing, and being carried from the casing by connecting parts through which the oil supply and oil delivery ports pass; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I set my hand. ROBERT WOOD. 

